TAMPA, Fla. — While gas prices across the state of Florida have fallen somewhat during the past couple of weeks, drivers are likely to soon see a spike in prices after the state gas tax holiday expires Tuesday.
According to AAA, once the holiday ends on Nov. 1, prices are poised to jump by 25 cents, which is the discount amount drivers were seeing for the whole month of October.
"While Halloween is traditionally a time for filling bags with candy, drivers may also want to fill their gas tank to take advantage of current prices at the pump," AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said in a statement. "Pump prices will likely rise 25 cents overnight, when the state gas tax expires on Tuesday morning."
Back when the state tax holiday was implemented on Oct. 1, gas prices dropped around 22 cents on average within just a couple of days – falling from $3.39 to $3.17 per gallon.
But that was a bit short-lived because OPEC announced plans during the first week of the month to cut its oil production rate. That sparked a 17-percent oil price hike.
AAA reports gas prices averaged $3.33 per gallon for the month of October, which is about 6 cents less than what the price was on Sept. 30. And while gas prices across the Sunshine State declined 7 cents last week, the prices will be going up starting Tuesday.
Most expensive metro markets, according to AAA:
- West Palm Beach-Boca Raton ($3.47)
- Gainesville ($3.40)
- Naples ($3.38)
Least expensive metro markets, according to AAA:
- Pensacola ($3.14)
- Crestview-Fort Walton Beach ($3.14)
- Panama City ($3.21)
Ways to save gas:
- Combine errands to limit driving time.
- Shop around for the best gas prices in your community.
- Pay with cash. Some retailers charge extra per gallon for customers who pay with a credit card.
- Remove excess weight in your vehicle. Every 100 pounds taken out of the vehicle improves fuel economy by 1-2 percent.
- Drive conservatively. Aggressive acceleration and speeding reduce fuel economy.